Traction cradle device

ABSTRACT

Traction cradle device comprising a standard, formed with a toothed rack and adapted to be secured to the back of a patient&#39;&#39;s chair, means for applying pressure to a patient&#39;&#39;s occipital area and to both sides of a patient&#39;&#39;s jaw area and shoulder-restrainer means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while pressure is being exerted upward on a patient&#39;&#39;s jaw-occipital area, first adjustable means for securing said occipital and jaw pressureapplying means on said standard and second adjustable means for securing said shoulder-restrainer means on said standard.

United States Patent 2,102,069 12/1937 Hanicke Inventor Joseph D. Corcoran 66 Greenway Terrace, Forest Hill, N.Y. 11375 Appl. No. 777,261 Filed Nov. 20, 1968 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 TRACTION CRADLE DEVICE 3 Claims,4 Drawing Figs.

Int. (1 A6111 U02 Field of Search 128/75, 76, 70, 71, 84; 297/391, 400, 410, 393

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,347,859 5/1944 Williams 297/410 X 2,791,999 5/1957 Bustamante. 128/75 X 3,170,659 2/1965 Wood, Jr. 297/391 X 3,216,767 11/1965 Lutfy 297/391 Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-.1. Yasko Attorney-.1 acob L. Kollin ABSTRACT: Traction cradle device comprising a standard, formed with a toothed rack and adapted to be secured to the back of a patient's chair, means for applying pressure to a patients occipital area and to both sides of a patients jaw area and shoulder-restrainer means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while pressure is being exerted upward on a patients jaw-occipital area, first adjustable means for securing said occipital and jaw pressure-applying means on said standard and second adjustable means for securing said shoulderrestrainer means on said standard.

PATENTED Au 3 1911 IN VENTOR. JOSEPH D. CORCORAN MAW ATTORNEY TRACTION CRADLE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to traction devices in general and in particular to a traction cradle device for the specific extension or traction of the cervical upper dorsal area of the spine.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a cradle in which the head may rest with pressure applied to the occipital area as well as both sides of the jaw area.

Another object of the invention is to provide shoulder restrainers which will maintain stability of the shoulders, while pressure is being exerted upward on the jaw-occipital area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means of applying traction and at the same time fit any and every head size possible. I

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the confinement which the patient feels in presently known types of traction devices.

Still another object of the invention is to provide application of traction with a minimum of adjustment necessary for such procedure.

Yet another object of the invention is to eliminate the socalled hanging which is involved in all types of traction and to increase substantially the confidence of the patient upon the first application of the device.

Still another object of the invention is to vary the amount of traction that can be applied, so precisely and so gradually, that it will produce a complete sense of relaxation and provide a very secure feeling for the patient, while eliminating all discomfort.

With the above and such other objects of the invention which may hereafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

It is to be understood that the device is not limited to the construction and arrangement of parts disclosed and that changes, variations and modifications in the detail construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the FIGS. in detail, the traction device according to the invention comprises a vertical standard 6 formed with a rack 8. The standard 6 is secured to the backrest 10 by means of a bracket 12. Slidably mounted on standard 6 are a pair of housings l4 and 16 provided with rotatable pinions l8 and 20, respectively, engaging with the rack 8. The pinions 18 and 20 are operable by means of a pair of respective shafts secured to the pinions and knobs integral with the free ends of said shafts. One of said shafts and its knob 24 is shown in FIG. 2. Both housings are provided with setscrews 26, 28, for securing the housing in desired positions on standard 6.

Rigidly secured to the housing 14 is an elongated, horizontally extending flat member 30. A pair of arcuate prongs 32, 32', contoured to the shape of the inferior bone structure of the head are pivoted with their rear end portions 33, 33' by means of pivot pins 36, 36', rigidly secured to said end portions, in member 30. Each pivot pin is provided with a threaded end 38 and a wingnut 40 engaging therewith. The prongs may thus be displaced laterally and secured in desired positions by tightening the Wingnuts 40.

Secured to the rear end portion 33, 33' by means of hinges 42, 42' are a pair of rear occipital cushions 44, 44' which adapt themselves to the contour of the seated patients occiput as the lift is applied by raising the member 30.

Slidably mounted on the forward ends 46, 46' are sleeves 48, 48'. A pair of chin cushions 50, 50' are secured to these sleeves by means of hinges 52, 52'. The chin cushions 50, 50'

can thus be adjusted forward or backward by moving the sleeves 48, 48 while the chin cushions swing on the hinges 52, 52, so that said chin cushions adapt themselves to the shape of the bone structure of the chin when coming in contact with the chin.

Secured to the sleeve 48' is one end of a band 54 of Velcro material, while a pad of Velcro material 56, engageable with the free end of band 54 is secured to the sleeve 48.

Velcro material is made of a multitude of short filaments of synthetic plastic such as hylon, which are adapted to mesh with and interlock against a material made also of a multitude of short wirelike filaments which are shaped to become hooked to like materiali Such materials are presently available under the commercial name of Velcro manufactured by the Velcro Corporation New York, N. Y. when the chin cushions 50, 50' are brought under the patients chin, the Velcro band is led under or around the forward part of the chin, depending on the shape of the bone structure of the chin, and the free end of the band 54 is hooked to the pad 56. This prevents the cushions from spreading apart as pressure of the cradle is exerted upward.

To prevent the chin cushions 50, 50' from assuming a vertical position, the backs of the chin cushions are provided with spacers 58 which maintain the chin cushions in inclined positron.

To maintain the stability of the shoulders while pressure is being exerted upward on the jaw-occipital area there is provided an adjustable shoulder-restrainer mechanism. This mechanism comprises a horizontal member 60 rigidly secured to housing 16 and a pair of adjustable bars 62, 62 provided with longitudinal slots 64, 64' at one of their ends. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the bars are displaceable longitudinally and swirigable laterally of threaded studs 66, 66' which are integral with the housing 16. Wingnuts 68, 68' serve to secure the bars 62, 62' in the required position.

Secured to each of the free ends of the bars 62, 62' by means of a ball-joint fastener 70, arcuate bars 72, and helical springs 74 are a pair of shoulder-restrainer pads 76, such as shown in FIG. 3.

To apply traction, the patient is seated and the shoulder pads 76 are emplaced on the patients shoulders by raising or lowering the housing 16 and adjusting the bars 62, 62. The setscrew 28 and the Wingnuts 64, 64' are tightened. The housing 14 is elevated until the occipital cushions 44, 44 adapt themselves to the occipit. The chin cushions 50, 50' are adapted to the shape of the patients chin by moving sleeves 48, 48 into an appropriate position. The Velcro band is passed around or under the forward part of the chin, depending on its shape or the bone structure. Traction is applied by elevating the cradle to the extent considered necessary, by turning the respective knob.

The traction device according to the invention eliminates all discomfort to the patient. It also makes it possible to ascertain exactly which group of vertebrae are best extended. Heretofore, traction devices lifted the head without knowledge as to where the actual stretching of the vertebrae was taking place. Furthermore, the patient can move his head forward if desired and bring about an immediate release from the pressure that is being applied. F

The head cradle is applied to an easy manner, in contrast to all former types of traction. It is shaped with its cushions, so that equal pressure will be applied at all contact points during the application of traction. The equal'points of contact are brought about by the raising or lowering of the chin so as to equalize the chin, occipital cushionpressure.

I claim:

I. Traction cradle device comprising a standard formed with a toothed rack and adapted to be secured to the back of a patients chair, means for applying pressure to a patients occipital area and to both sides of a patients jaw area, shoulderrestrainer means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while pressure is being exerted upward on a patient's jaw-occipital area, first adjustable means for securing said occipital and jaw pressure-applying means on said standard, second adjustable means for securing said shoulder-restrainer means on said standard, said occipital and jaw pressure-applying means comprising a pair of arcuate prongs contoured to the shape of an inferior bone structure of a patient's head, said prongs having rear portions and forward portions, a pair of rear occipital cushions pivoted to the rear portions of said arcuate prongs, respectively, a pair of sleeves slidable along the forward portions of said prongs, respectively, a pair of chin cushions hingedly secured to said sleeves, said first adjustable means comprising a first housing, a first rotatable pinion in said housing, engaging with said rack, a shaft secured to said pinion and extending outwardly of said housing, a knob secured to the free end of said shaft, a setscrew for securing the housing in a desired position on said standard, a first horizontal bar rigidly secured to said housing with one end thereof and extending in the direction of a patient's head, the rear end portions of said prongs having threaded pivot pins extending through said bar,

for laterally pivoting said prongs and wingnuts engaging with said threaded pivot pins for securing said rear end portions in desired positions.

2. Traction cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shoulder-restrainer means comprise a second housing, a second rotatable pinion in said housing, engaging with said rack, a second shaft secured to said pinion and extending outwardly of said housing, a knob secured to the free end of said second shaft, a second setscrew for securing the second housing in desired position on said standard, a second horizontal bar secured to said second housing, a pair of horizontal pivotable bars secured to said second bar and displaceable along their length. a pair of shoulder-restrainer pads adjustably secured to the free ends of said horizontal pivotable bars, adjustable means for securing said shoulder pads to the free ends of said bars and means for securing said pivotable bars in a desired position relative to said second bar.

3. Traction device as claimed in claim 2, further provided with a velcro band secured with one end to an upper portion of one of said chin cushions, a velcro pad secured to an upper portion of the other of said cushions, the free end of said band being engageable with said pad when led under or around a forward part of the chin. 

1. Traction cradle device comprising a standard formed with a toothed rack and adapted to be secured to the back of a patient''s chair, means for applying pressure to a patient''s occipital area and to both sides of a patient''s jaw area, shoulder-restrainer means for maintaining stability of the shoulders while pressure is being exerted upward on a patient''s jaw-occipital area, first adjustable means for securing said occipital and jaw pressureapplying means on said standard, second adjustable means for securing said shoulder-restrainer means on said standard, said occipital and jaw pressure-applying means comprising a pair of arcuate prongs contoured to the shape of an inferior bone structure of a patient''s head, said prongs having rear portions and forward portions, a pair of rear occipital cushions pivoted to the rear portions of said arcuate prongs, respectively, a pair of sleeves slidable along the forward portions of said prongs, respectively, a pair of chin cushions hingedly secured to said sleeves, said first adjustable means comprising a first housing, a first rotatable pinion in said housing, engaging with said rack, a shaft secured to said pinion and extending outwardly of said housing, a knob secured to the free end of said shaft, a setscrew for securing the housing in a desired position on said standard, a first horizontal bar rigidly secured to said housing with one end thereof and extending in the direction of a patient''s head, the rear end portions of said prongs having threaded pivot pins extending through said bar, for laterally pivoting said prongs and wingnuts engaging with said threaded pivot pins for securing said rear end portions in desired positions.
 2. Traction cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shoulder-restrainer means comprise a second housing, a second rotatable pinion in said housing, engaging with said rack, a second shaft secured to said pinion and extending outwardly of said housing, a knob secured to the free end of said second shaft, a second setscrew for securing the second housing in desired position on said standard, a second horizontal bar secured to said second housing, a pair of horizontal pivotable bars secured to said second bar and displaceable along their length, a pair of shoulder-restrainer pads adjustably secured to the free ends of said horizontal pivotable bars, adjustable means for securing said shoulder pads to the free ends of said bars and means for securing said pivotable bars in a desired position relative to said second bar.
 3. Traction device as claimed in claim 2, further provided with a velcro band secured with one end to an upper portion of one of said chin cushions, a velcro pad secured to an upper portion of the other of said cushions, the free end of said band being engageable with said pad when led under or around a forward part of the chin. 